Category: Local News

LONGVIEW – A victim of a domestic disturbance in Longview is now listed in stable condition following surgery. KETK reports the incident left one person dead and the other critically injured. The couple were found Thursday night in a car in the parking lot close to Planet Beach Tan on West Loop 281. Kenneth Jack Jordan (pictured), 54, of Longview was dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. Officers found a severely injured Diana Jordon, 46, of Longview, his wife, in the front seat of the vehicle with a gunshot wound. She underwent the surgery Saturday for what was initially deemed a life threatening injury. It appears as if the man shot his wife and then shot himself. Diana had filed for divorce last month and a protective order was issued against Kenneth on Thursday.

PALESTINE – A Palestine man has been sentenced to 99 years for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. KETK reports Darryl Wayne Lewis, 44, was sentenced Friday by an Anderson County jury after his conviction the day before. Lewis was arrested in 2014 after Palestine Police Department officers and a SWAT team executed a “no knock” search warrant at a home occupied by Lewis and his wife, Gina. Once inside the home, officers found methamphetamine pipes, a set of digital scales, a cell phone, and Lewis’ parole ankle monitor station. Officers downloaded the recovered phone and discovered multiple text messages sent by Lewis. Police Sgt. Matt Kerr testified that the texts indicated Lewis was selling methamphetamine. Lewis is a habitual offender. He has been incarcerated 4 times on 6 different felony cases out of Anderson County beginning in 1992.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports Cody Miller was sentenced Friday for a June 11, 2014 incident. During cross examination, Miller admitted to sexually assaulting at least eight different child victims of both sexes ranging in age from 4 to 14. Judge Alfonso Charles held Miller in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions regarding Miller’s now approximately 9-year-old-nephew.

TYLER – Ardent Health Services and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler have announced a newly formed 10-hospital health system . It is being created by the purchase of East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, which will be named UT Health East Texas. The Ut System board of regents approved the partnership at Thursday’s meeting. UT Health East Texas will include the 502-bed East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, UT Health Northeast hospital and clinics, and the UT Health Northeast MD Anderson Cancer Center. Also included are eight regional hospitals, more than 50 clinic locations and an EMS fleet of more than 45 ambulances and four helicopters. The sale is projected to close March 1.… Read the rest of the article…

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Staff/AP) — President Donald Trump Friday signed Kari’s Law, a bill named after an East Texas woman and filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler. Introduced first in 2015, Kari’s Law of 2017 will ensure anyone who dials 911 can reach emergency personnel even if the phone typically requires the user to dial a prefix such as “9” or “7” to reach an outside line. The bill is named in memory of Kari Hunt Dunn, who was fatally stabbed in December 2013 by her estranged husband in a Marshall hotel room. The couple’s 9-year-old daughter tried to dial 911 four times during the struggle, but was unsuccessful because she didn’t realize she had to first dial an access number or an extra “9” to get an outside line.… Read the rest of the article…

TROUP – A historic East Texas church has been destroyed in a Friday morning fire. It was reported around 6:30am at the Mount Rose Baptist Church. It is located near the intersection of Hollis Street and South Front Street in Troup.The church celebrated its 105th anniversary three months ago. No injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

LONGVIEW – Two persons are in jail in Longview in connection with a September wreck that killed 2 persons and left one injured. Chad Palmer Malone, 19, of Longview and Davin Blain Davis, 21, of Hallsville were racing at the time of the accident. It occurred near the intersection of North Eastman Road and Hawkins Parkway. Malone and Davis are both charged with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of racing on highway causing serious bodily injury and a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Both remain in the Gregg County Jail.… Read the rest of the article…

Woman in Stable Condition Following Longview Shooting

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:07 pm

LONGVIEW – A victim of a domestic disturbance in Longview is now listed in stable condition following surgery. KETK reports the incident left one person dead and the other critically injured. The couple were found Thursday night in a car in the parking lot close to Planet Beach Tan on West Loop 281. Kenneth Jack Jordan (pictured), 54, of Longview was dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. Officers found a severely injured Diana Jordon, 46, of Longview, his wife, in the front seat of the vehicle with a gunshot wound. She underwent the surgery Saturday for what was initially deemed a life threatening injury. It appears as if the man shot his wife and then shot himself. Diana had filed for divorce last month and a protective order was issued against Kenneth on Thursday.

Palestine Man Gets 99 Years in Meth Case

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:08 pm

PALESTINE – A Palestine man has been sentenced to 99 years for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. KETK reports Darryl Wayne Lewis, 44, was sentenced Friday by an Anderson County jury after his conviction the day before. Lewis was arrested in 2014 after Palestine Police Department officers and a SWAT team executed a “no knock” search warrant at a home occupied by Lewis and his wife, Gina. Once inside the home, officers found methamphetamine pipes, a set of digital scales, a cell phone, and Lewis’ parole ankle monitor station. Officers downloaded the recovered phone and discovered multiple text messages sent by Lewis. Police Sgt. Matt Kerr testified that the texts indicated Lewis was selling methamphetamine. Lewis is a habitual offender. He has been incarcerated 4 times on 6 different felony cases out of Anderson County beginning in 1992.

Gregg County Man Gets 75 Years for Child Sex Assault

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:29 pm

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK reports Cody Miller was sentenced Friday for a June 11, 2014 incident. During cross examination, Miller admitted to sexually assaulting at least eight different child victims of both sexes ranging in age from 4 to 14. Judge Alfonso Charles held Miller in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions regarding Miller’s now approximately 9-year-old-nephew.

A Major Medical Partnership in East Texas

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:10 pm

TYLER – Ardent Health Services and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler have announced a newly formed 10-hospital health system . It is being created by the purchase of East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, which will be named UT Health East Texas. The Ut System board of regents approved the partnership at Thursday’s meeting. UT Health East Texas will include the 502-bed East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, UT Health Northeast hospital and clinics, and the UT Health Northeast MD Anderson Cancer Center. Also included are eight regional hospitals, more than 50 clinic locations and an EMS fleet of more than 45 ambulances and four helicopters. The sale is projected to close March 1.… Read the rest of the article…

President Trump Signs Kari’s Law

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:10 pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Staff/AP) — President Donald Trump Friday signed Kari’s Law, a bill named after an East Texas woman and filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler. Introduced first in 2015, Kari’s Law of 2017 will ensure anyone who dials 911 can reach emergency personnel even if the phone typically requires the user to dial a prefix such as “9” or “7” to reach an outside line. The bill is named in memory of Kari Hunt Dunn, who was fatally stabbed in December 2013 by her estranged husband in a Marshall hotel room. The couple’s 9-year-old daughter tried to dial 911 four times during the struggle, but was unsuccessful because she didn’t realize she had to first dial an access number or an extra “9” to get an outside line.… Read the rest of the article…

Fire Destroys Area Church

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:10 pm

TROUP – A historic East Texas church has been destroyed in a Friday morning fire. It was reported around 6:30am at the Mount Rose Baptist Church. It is located near the intersection of Hollis Street and South Front Street in Troup.The church celebrated its 105th anniversary three months ago. No injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Two Charged in Fatal Longview Wreck

Posted/updated on:
February 17, 2018 at
4:30 pm

LONGVIEW – Two persons are in jail in Longview in connection with a September wreck that killed 2 persons and left one injured. Chad Palmer Malone, 19, of Longview and Davin Blain Davis, 21, of Hallsville were racing at the time of the accident. It occurred near the intersection of North Eastman Road and Hawkins Parkway. Malone and Davis are both charged with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of racing on highway causing serious bodily injury and a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Both remain in the Gregg County Jail.… Read the rest of the article…